Traffic-signal device



Jan. 13, 1925.

G. C. DEGNER ET AL TRAFFIC SIGNAL DEVICE Qwuenl'ozs C .Fegaer Sid'zreyJ. Maw 00f;

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D06. 31, 1921 Jan. 1925. 1522,61?

G. C. DEGNER ET AL TRAFFIC SIGNAL DEVI CE Filed Dec. 31. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 5 DIAL L; .9 6?

FIRE ALARM. 0 F5 if STOP "i? FlRE r 7 6'3 3'' 6% I l l I l ,I a I gwumflow g eagye 616 I A 4 2( 528216711 .Murdar": 6'] JP 3y Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE C. DEGNER, OF LONG BEACH, AND SIDNEY A. MURDOCK, OF .105 ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; SAID MURDOCK ASSIGNOR TO SAID DEGNER.

TRAFFIC-SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed December 31, 1921. Serial No. 526,342.

To all whom. it IIUI'f/ concern:

Be. it known that we, GEORGE C. DEGNER and SIDNEY A. l\[URDOCK,' citizens of United States of America, residing at Long Beach, (:ilit., and Los Angeles, (.alif., respectively, in the county of Los Angeles and Stateof California. have invented newand useful Improvements in a Traffic-Signal Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a traffic signal which is especially applicable for use at street intersections for directing the movement of tratfic. In devices of this character it is common practice to employ signal arms, lights or otherobjects. which are operated at suitable intervals to signal traftic moving on one street to stop,' and to indicate to trafiic moving on a cross street to proceed. Such devices as ordinarily employed are objectionable in that while directing traffic they do not serve to regulate traffic and because they cause confusion especially to the drivers of ve-' hicles reaching a street intersection at or about themoment of change of theosignal. Tt is the purpose of this invention to obviate these objections and to provide a signal-with means whereby drivers of vehicles, pedestrians. and others. may determine in advance of change of signal the predetermined moment when the change is to occur, so that persons approaching a street intersection may regulate their progress according to the length of time that will elapse before change of direction of movement of traftic.

An object of my invention is to provide a signal embodying means by which a preindieation of the change of the signal Willbe given, and another object is to provide" a mechanism for automatically operating the signal.

Another object. is to provide a signal in which a visual signal element is in regular intermittent motion and readable in relation to another signal. element so that while otter-ting change in the information signaled at" delayed intervals there will he. no cessatio of movement of the visual signal other than the short pause between intermittent strokes. thus giving a constant premonitory warning of change of signal.

Another object is to provide an eleetrically operated mechanism for effecting a step by step rotary movement of a signal element and at the same time alternately operate a plurality of other signal elements, which is so constructed as to be readily thrown in and out ,of operation by an electric control switch.

A further object is to provide a new and novel method of directing and regulating trafiic whereby persons at or approaching an intersection may be signaled either to stop or go ahead and at the same time be informed beforehand thruout the interim between change of signal of the moment when the change in signal is to take place.

With the objects above stated in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, or their equivalents hereinafter set forth and claimed and illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which;

Figure 1 is a view of the signal as seen in end elevation with parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a View in front elevation;

Figure 3 is a detail in elevation as seen on the line 33 of Fig. 1, illustrating the assemblage of the signal operatin-gmechanism;

Fi ure 4 the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail in section as seen on the line 5-5 f Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is a detail in perspective of the adjustable circuit closer for closing a bell ringing electrical circuit;

Figure 7 is a detail in perspective of the timing mechanism showing parts in detached relation to each other and with parts removed; j

Figure 8 is a dot? in section as seen 0 the line 88 of Fig. 3;

Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the electrical circuit and apparatus employed in operating the signal.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, 10 indicates a housing which may be of any suitable construction and adapted to contain an electro-mechanical signal operating mechanism.

In carrying out the invention in its presis a detail in section as seen on ent embodiment the housing 10 is formed with an opening 11 fitted with a translucent dial 113 having two segmental fields 13 and H of different colors; the field 13 being here indicated as green and the field 14 indicated as red with the field 13 arranged above the field H. The fields are here shown with each field extending over approximately half the plate but the fields may be formed to have any other relative segmental lengths according to the requirements of the signal, for example in some instances the green field may be shorter than that of the red field or vice versa.

Mounted in suitable bearings in the housing and extending thru the dial 12 is a shaft 15 on which is mounted an indicating arm 16 extending over the dial 12 and adapted on rotation of the shaft 15 to traverse the fields 13 and 14 preferably clock-wise and preferably with practically uniform intermittent movement.

The signal is designed to be located at the intersection of streets, railways or other traffic crossings with a dial 12 facing each approach to the crossing; the signal housing being provided with a suitable number of faces and dials as occasion may require. being here shown for the purpose of illustration as fitted with corresponding dials on opposite sides.

The red segmental area is understood or may be designated to indicate stop and the green segmental area to indicate go and to be read according to the position of the indicating arm. for exampleassume the indicating arm to be disposed over the red field 14. as shown in Fig. 2. This will indicate to t'atfic approaching the signal to stop and remain stopped or 110% to pass the crossing during the time that ti 5 indicating element is traversing the red field and until it passes from the red field to the green field. whereupon the indicating arm will indicate to approaching traffic to go during the time the indicating arm traverses the green field and until it passes to the red field to again indicate stop. It will now be seen that a person approaching the signal may ascertain in advance about when a change of the signal from stop to go or vice versa will take place. For example-the driver of a vehicle approaching a trafiic intersection fitted with the signal could observe at a distance from the intersection the position of the indicator on the ing change in the signal may proceed or make readiness to do so before change in the signal occurs was to be under way before reaching the crossing and before the signal changes. In like manner a driver approaching the intersection when the indicator arm is traversing the green segment indicating go may determine by the position of the indicator arm and its speed of travel over the segment the length of time in which to cross the intersection before change in the signal occurs. as for instanceassuming the indicating arm to be traversing the portion of the green segment immediately before passing to the red zone, a driver could determine that by increasing his speed, a crossing of the intersection could be effected before the signal to stop would be given. In like manner pedestrians or others desiring to act according to the signal may determine in advance approximately the length of time that will elapse before change in the signal will occur. From this it will be seen that by the use of this invention not only may the traffic be directed but by observance of the signal on the part of pedestrians and drivers of vehicles the movement of traffic may be regulated, as by watching the movement of the indicating arm over the dial approaching traffic will regulate its speed so as to adapt its movement to the signal.

The mechanism for operating the indicating arm is particularly shown in Figs. 3, 4. 7 and 8 and embodies a spur tooth ratchet wheel 17 mounted on shaft 15, a reciprocating slide panel 18 supported in suitable guides and movable in a direction transversely of the shaft 15 adjacent the spur ratchet. a spring pressed pawl 19 carried by the slide panel and normally engaging the ratchet. wheel. an electro-magnet 20 acting when energized on an armature 21 connected to the slide panel to move the latter in one direction. a spring 22 connected to the slide panel at one end and to the guide frame 23 at its other end adapted to move the slide panel in the other direction to effect rotation of the ratchet wheel thru the pawl 19. a pawl 24 on the frame 23 engaging the ratchet wheel to hold the latter against retrograde movement. a pair of escapemeut pawls 25 and 26 mounted on the slide panel and adapted to alternately engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel to limit the advance movement of the latter. and electrically operated means for intermittently energizing the magnet 20 at practically uniform intervals. The timing mechanism is here shown as embodying an electro-magnet 27 adapted when energized to swing an armature 28 mounted on a stud shaft 29 and normally.

held in a retracted position by a spring 10 connected to the armature.

Operation of the armature 28 is designed 6 ture and is electrically connected. to the spring 36 which spring serves as a flexible conductor and leads from a, binding post 32 on an insulated standard 33. Bearing on the' stud shaft 29 and turnable relative thereto is a vertically extending arbor 34, the upper end of which has its bearin in a frame Turnably mounted on the ar )or is an arm 36 here shown in the form of a yoke arranged astride a collar 37 fixed on the arbor and 1 which arm is provided with a contact point 38 which normally bears against the contact point 31 on the armature 28 when the latter is in its retracted position as shown in Fig. 6: the arm 36 being shown in Figure 7 in detached relation to the contact point 31.

.\ coil spring 39 wound around the collar 37 has its inner end fastened to the collar and its outer end secured to the arm 36 in such manner as to exert a pull on the arm tend ing to maintain it in a retracted position against the contact point. 31 and yieldably opposing turning movement of the arm on the arbor. A coil spring 40 has its inner end attached to the upper portion of the arbor 34 and has its outer end adjustably and securely fastened to a bracket 41 carried by the frame which spring serves to yieldablv oppose turning of the arbor 34 in one direction and acts to restore the arm 35 36 to its retracted position after it has been advanced, as will be later described. and mounted on the arbor to rotate therewith is a fly-wheel 42 the purpose of which will appear hereinafter. The spring 39 connects with the contact 38 and forms a vieldable electrical conductor between the contact member and the arbor and the spring 40 forms a yieldable conductor between the arbor and the frame 35 which forms part of'an electric circuit. as will ,later 'appear.

A pair of alternately operable visual signals are provided adapted to be read in conjunction with the preindicating signal arm 16 and the fields 13 and 14 to designate go and stop which signals arehere shown as comprising transparent or translucent sign plan-s43 and 44 hearing the indicia go and stop respectively: the sign plate 43 being here shown as arranged in the casing it) above the field 13 and thesig'n plate 44 bein': arranged in the casing below the field 14-. The plates 43 and 44 may be colored to correspond to the adjacent fields with which they are designed to be read. The sign pl t s 43 and 44 are designed to be rendered visible by electric lamps 45 and 46 arranged within the housing adjacent the sign plates 43 and 44 respectively.

The operation of the signals go and stop is'controllcd by a switch 47 adapted electrical circuitcontrolling the lamp their margins cut away.

to be operated on rotation of the shaft 15 to alternately open and close electrical circuits thru the lamps 45 and 46; the switch being here shown as embodying a pair of contact members 48 and 49 arranged in the 45, a pair of contact. members 50 and 51 in the circuit controlling the lamp 46, and a switch member 52 adapted to be positioned to electrically connect the contact'members 48 and 49 or the contact members 50 and 51. For this purpose the contact members 4849 are disposed a'short distance from the pair of contact members 50 and 51 in alignment therewith and the switch member 52 is arranged to move back andforth between the pairs of cont-act members, being here shown as carried on an arm 53 of a, bell-crank lever pivoted at 54 on the frame, the other arm 55 of which is arranged to be acted on by an adjustable cam 56 carried on the shaft 15. A spring 5:7 acts on the bell-crank lever to normally dispose the switch member 52 in engagement with the contact members 48 49. The cam 56 operates to rock the bellcrank lever in opposition to the spring 57 to dispose the switch member 52 in engagementwith the contact members 50-431.

The cam 56 comprises a flange 58 secured to the spur gear 17 and a disc 59 arranged alongside the flange 58 having a projecting marginal portion 60 adapted to be positioned to form an extension on the flange 58; the

l'lill'IO 58 and disc 59 having portions of The disc 59 is forme'l with an arc-uate slot 61 thru which extends a screw 62 engaging the flange 56 to effect a fastening between the flange and disc. The purpose of this cam is to provide means whercbv the circuit to the signals go and stop may be completed or broken at the moment the preindicating arm .16 passes from one field to the other on the dial: the adjustment of the cam being provided so as to accommodate the point of make and. break to the division line between the fields. thus permitting interchanginc ot the dials according to the various requirements without interchanging the cam and also permitting of ready adjustment.

As a means for giving an audible alarm at the 'moment of change of the signals go and stop an electrically operated bell 63 is provided, the operation of which is controlled hy a switch 64 (see Fig. 9) here shown as comprising a switch arm 67) forming a'contact member adapted to electrically connect with a rotary contact member 66 here shown as embodying contacts i\ and B which are electrically connected in the bell circuit in any desired manner.

The dial is designed to be illuminatet-l and .for this purpose electric lamps 67 are Drovided here shown as arranged in the housing 10 rearward of the dial.

An auxiliary signal is provided for fire purposes here shown as comprising a sign plate 68 arranged beneath the plate 5% bearing the word Fire which is normally in a non-signalling condition and is designed to he rendered opc'ative by means of electric lamps 69' arranged adjacent the sign plate in such manner as to illuminate the latter when the lamps are in operation. The circuit thru the lamps 69 may be controlled in any desired manner, but is here shown as controlled by a manually operated switch 72 which switch may also control an alarm hell 71 to operate the latter during the time the fire signal 69 is in operation.

The electrical connections between the various electrical elements of the signal are particularly shown in the diagram illustrated in Fig. 9 in which a and 1) indicate conductors leading from the opposite sides of the source of electrical supply indicated at c. A cut-oif switch d is provided in the conductor a for throwing the entire circuit out of operation. A switch 72 comprising two switch members 6 and f connects with the conduct-or b and is adapted to be disposed to connect either with a pair of conductors g and h or a pair of conductors 11 and j. The conductor a leads to and connects with one terminal of a coil Z" of a transformer 73 the other end of which coil connects with the conductor 7; the coil 7: providing a resistance in the circuit formed by the conductors a and g. The conductor (1. is connected to the contact member 49 thru the lamp 453 by a conductor Z and the conductor 7 connects with contact member 48. Conductor (1 connects thru the lamps 46 with the contact member 51 by conductor m and the conductor 71 connects with contact member 50. The lamps 67 are arranged in a conductor n connecting conductors r and (I. A conductor 0 leads from conductor 9 to one terminal of the magnet 20 and also to one terminal of the magnet 27. The other terminal of the magnet 20 connects with a conductor 7? connecting with the frame thru a resistance clement I] and the other terminal of the magnet 27 connects with the frame thru a resistance element '1'; a conductor a connecting the resistances and r to the frame 35. A conductor 25 leads from the binding post 32 of the armature 2S and connects with the conductor (1. The conductor i connects with the conductor in. so that when the switch member 6 connects therewith, a circuit will be completed thru lamps 46. The conductor j connects with the conductor a thru the lamps 69. The bell circuit for operating the bell 63 comprises a transformer coil u in the transformer 73. the terminals of which connect with conductors '1) and w connecting with the members and 66 of the switch 64- thru the coil of the bell 63 as is common in bell circuits. A switch 74 is provided -in the conductor 40 for cutting out the bell circuit. comprises conductors ac connecting conductors a and j to the ends of a coil ofatransformer 7 another coil of whichconnects with conductors 7 and 2: leading to the bell coils of the bell 71.

Assuming the elements to be arranged indicated in Fig. 9, that is, with switch 4 closed and switch 72' closed toconductors g and 71, the operation of the mechanism will be as follows:

Electric current will flow from the source 0, say for example, thru conductor 4, coil In and back thru conductor 9, switch member c and conductor 7). thus energizing coil Z', and thereby energizing coil to to provide an induced curren in the bell circuit when the latter is closed byswitch 64. Current will also flow from conductor a thru conductor n, lamps 67 conductor 9, switch member and conductor 6, and thereby illuminate the dial lamp.

The-switch member 52 being engaged with contacts 5051 current will flow thru conductors a and m, lamps 46, switch 47, conductor 71, switch member f and conductor 7). thus illui'ninating the stop signal 44. which will remain illuminated during a partial revolution of the gear 17 and its attached shaft 15 and preindicator 16.

Current will flow thru conductors a and 29, thru contacts 31 and 37, thence thru conductor s, resistances (p-r and thru each of the magnets 20 and 27, and back to re-- turn conductor 9 thru conductor 0, thereby energizing both magnets simultaneously. Magnet 20 will then operate to attract armature 21 and advance the slide 18 in opposition to spring 22 and in so doing cause the ratchet 19 to ride over the teeth of the spur gear 17 during which time,pawl 25 will move into engagement with the gear while pawl 26 moves out of engagement therewith. Pawl 2.4 then acts with pawl 25 to hold the gear against retrograde movement. Magnet 27 will operate to attract armature 28 which will be suddenly advanced and thereby impel arm 36 forwardly, the arm acting thru spring 39 to turn arbor 34 and wind spring'40. The impulse given arm 36 will cause the fiy-wheel 42 to act and ause the arbor to continue turning after the armature 28 has come to rest and thereby move contact 38 on the arm 36 away from contact 31 so as to break the circuit thru the magnets to tie-energize same. whereupon spring 30 will retract armature 30 and spring 22 will retract the slide 18. On the return stroke of the slide 18 pawl. 19 will engage a tooth of the spur gear and cause the latter to turn a partial revolution under action of spring 22 and thereby effect an impulse of preindicator 16 to cause the The bell circuit of the fire alarm 71 Y latter to advance a short distance over the dial. Pawl 26 will then move outof engagement with the spur gear and pawl 25 will more into engagement therewith so as to limit movement of the preindicator.

The fly-wheel 42 will act to continue turning of the arbor until its momentum is overcome by the spring 40 which spring will then operate to reverse the movement of. the arbor and cause arm 36 to return and reengage contacts 38 and 31 to again-complete the circuit thru the magnets. On the arm 36 coming to rest against armature 28 the fly-wheel will continue to turn the arbor a short distance in opposition to spring 39 which absorbs shock of impact of the arm and gradually arrests retrograde movement of the arbor which however will be again acted on on re-energizing magnet 27. It will now be seen that a delayed interval will -occur between each energization of the magnets which affords the requisite time in which the return stroke of the slide and the resultant impulse of the preindicator takes place.

lVhen the spur gear has been turned such distance as to have carried the preindicator across the field 14, the cam 56 will pass from arm 55 and allow spring 57 to pull the contact member 52 away from contacts 50-51 and into engagement with contacts 4849 and at the same time cause a contact point A on the flange 58 toengage switch arm in such manner as to momentarily close the bell circuit to ring bell 63, thus giving an audible alarm coincident with breaking the circuit thru lamps 46 and making the circuit thru lamp 45 which occurs on moving contact 52 into engagement with contacts 4849 at this moment. The signal go will then be illuminated and the signal stop will be darkened, which condition will endure until the switch member 52 is again returned to contacts 5051 at the moment the preindicator arm passes from field 13 to field 14. The cycle of operation described will continue during such time as switch (Z is closed and current is flowing. g

It will now be seen that the signals stop and go will be alternately operated at predetermined intervals with a delayed lapse of time between each operation which time may be varied as occasion may require by adjustment of the cam 56 so that the lengths of exposure of the alternating signals may be equal or unequal, and that by providing the movable arm 16, which is practically in continuous motion and readable in conjunction with divisions on the dial, it is possible for an observer to determine beforehand exactly the moment the change of the alternating signals will occur.

dial lamps (37. Current will then flow continuously thru the stop lamps 46 to maintain this signal constantly visible; the current passing thru conductor a, m and i, switch member 6 and conductor b. Current will also flow thru the fire lamps 9 to operate the visual fire alarm signal; the

current flowing thru conductors a and 7', switch member f, and conductor Current will also flow thru the circuit of the fire alarm bell 71 as before described to give an audible alarm during the time the visual fire alarm signal is in operation.

\Vhere it is desirable to employ a plurality of the signals in one casing 10, the operating mechanism may be employed to control a series of the signals simultaneously. The casing is here shown as fitted with a pair of corresponding signals on it. opposite sides; the several lamps serving t o illuminate complementary signals go,

stop and fire. To efl'ect opcratlon of a second preindicating arm, the spur gear 17 has a beveled gear 76 on its rear face which meshes with an idler gear 77 intermeshing with a gear 78 on a shaft 15 carrying an arm 16, in such manner that on turning the gear 17 the arms 16 and 16 will be moved in unison.

The electrical control mechanism is here shown arranged within the casing but where a series of separate signal devices are employed as at a number of different traffic intersections a single master timing mechanism may be employed to control the several signals so that they may be operated simultaneously.

The signal device herein set forth is adapted to various applications and we therefor do not limit ourselves to its use in regulating traffic at street intersections. For example, the preindicating feature is applicable for use at railway crossings for indicating the approach of trains, in which event the preindicator would be operated to signal the moment the train would reach a crossing. The invention as here disclosed, however, is particularly applicable for use in directing and regulating traffic at street corners and especially at the intersections of groups of streets.

While we have shown and described a specific embodiment of our invention, we do not limit ourselves to the exact details of construction and arrangement set forth but may employ such changes and modifications of the parts and resort to such equivalents as come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of .the appended claims.

WVe claim:

1. A tratiic regulating signal comprising a dial provided with a plurality of segmental sections each section designating an instruction to tratfic, indicating means movable relative to said dial readable in conjunction with the dial section to signal regulation of tratiic, and means for moving said .indicating means consecutively over said dicating arm mounted to traverse said dial to pass over said fields, and means for impart-ing steadily progressive movement to said arm; said arm serving as it approaches either of the fields to preindicate a change of slgnal.

4. In a trafi ic regulating signal, a dial having segmental fields of dili'erent char- 'aeter, one designating go and another designating stop, an indicating arm mounted to rotate over said fields and to pass from one field to an adjacent. field, and means for effecting rotation of said arm; said arm serving as it approaches either of the fields to preindicate a change of signal.

5. In a tratlic regulating signal, a dial, an indicating arm mounted to traverse the dial, means on said dial readable in conjunction with said indicating arm for signalling traflic, said indicating arm in moving from one position to another on the dial preindicating a change of signal, a shaft carrying said arm, a reciprocating member, electro-mechanical means for eftecting movement of said member, means whereby reciprocation of said member will -etl'cct intermittent rotary movement of said indicating arm, a separate signal for indicating go, another separate signal indicating stop, and means controlled by the indicator arm rotating means for throwing said go and stop signals in and out of operation, whereby the go signal will be in operation during a portion of a revolution of the indicating arm and whereby the stop signal will be in operation during another portion of the rotation of said arm.

(i. The method of regulating traiiic consisti'ug in continuously moving a visual signal over adial having two fields one to designate stop and the other go, in such manner that the movement of the visual signal over one field and advancing toward the other will preindicate the moment of change of signal.

7. In a trafl ic regulating signal, a dial having two fields of different character, an indicating arm movable relative to the fields on'said dial to signal stop while traversing one field and to signal go while traversing the other field, and in advancing toward the other field preindica-ting a change of signal.

8. A traflic regulating signal comprising spaced signals indicating stop and go" respectively, progressively operable indicating means between said signals, means for causing said signals to give their characteristic indications in alternation at predetermined time intervals and for operating said indicating means to show the time of an approaching change of signals by the position of the progressively operable means.

9. A tralfic regulating signal comprising spaced signals indicating stop and go' respectively, tratlic change indicating means for directing attention to said signals, means mounting said indicating means for movement toward and from said signals in alternation and means for moving said indicating means at a predetermined speed, whereby the time of an approaching change of signal is indicated by the position of the trafiic change indicating means in its movement toward either signal.

GEORGE C. DEGNER. SIDNEY A. BTURDOCK. 

